Jack introduced Mia to Laura and they drove her back to the university to where Mia’s car was parked.
The trip back was relatively quiet, but when Jack turned into the parking lot, Mia was began to worry. Did I talk too much? What will happen when the benefactor finds out? Will they question my loyalty? If they killed that woman to protect me from getting a criminal record …
Fear of survival briefly overpowered her normal pragmatism and she made her first serious mistake with Jack. When he parked alongside her car, she abruptly leaned forward in her seat and asked, “Will you be putting in a report on your computer or laptop that names me?”
Jack turned in the seat to face her. “I will do a report, but you won’t be named. You’ll be assigned a number and it is that number that goes in the report.”
“No, but if people read it, they would figure it out,” replied Mia, anxiously.
“Very few people would have access to my report,” said Jack. “It isn’t something that goes to court or anything.”
“Okay, good,” replied Mia. I’m probably screwed. Better tell Mr. Frank everything …
Jack studied her face, trying to read her thoughts. He sensed she was holding something back. “I realize you’re under stress and I suspect it will only get worse. Even if you didn’t know that Wong was going to kill Betty Donahue, you’d have to be a psychopath for it not to bother you.”
“It bothers me,” muttered Mia.
“Normally I would tell someone in your position not to tell anyone that you are co-operating with us, but I have a feeling that the pressure you are under will cause you to want to confide in someone. Do you have a boyfriend? Someone you trust implicitly?”
“I don’t have a boyfriend and I don’t feel any need to talk to anyone,” replied Mia, adamantly.
“I know you are close to your mom by how excited you were to show her the picture, before deciding you didn’t want her to worry. Maybe you should talk to her? Moms are pretty intuitive. She will know something is troubling you. If she is worried, we would be glad to meet with her to try and alleviate her worry.”
Mia bit her lower lip as she tried to think what was best.
“I don’t care if you do give her the bullshit about it not being your drugs,” continued Jack, “but I know this is bothering you and I sense that you will confide in someone sooner or later.”
“I’m not a child who needs to run to mommy,” replied Mia, defensively.
Jack shrugged. “You might be right, but I am experienced in these matters and my prediction of human nature is usually accurate. You are mature enough that I think Betty’s death will eat away at you. In the long run it could affect your emotional health if you try to keep it inside you.”
Jack’s words and talk about her mother made her feel vulnerable. The urge to regain control came back. “I’ll think about it,” she said, then looked at Jack and glanced at her car and said, “Can I talk to you in private for a moment?”
Jack exchanged a knowing glance with Laura, but nodded and got out of the car with Mia while Laura remained inside.
“I know she’s your partner and everything,” said Mia, with a nod of her head toward Laura, “but in the future, I prefer to deal with you alone. There’s something about her that makes me feel uncomfortable.”
“Not a chance,” replied Jack. “Laura and I are a team.”
“Big deal. It’s not like you’re joined at the hip.”
“You are deliberately picking me because I am of the opposite sex.”
“What the hell? That is not true at all! My God, what a narcissistic and egotistical thing to say.”
“On a psychological level you think that if you deal with me alone, it will be easier to manipulate me through flirtation or other sexual overtones. Some people do it on a subconscious level, but for you, it is overt.”
“I don’t know where you took your psychology 101, but that’s silly,” scoffed Mia.
“Is it? Do you really think your performance in the interview room of massaging a cramp out of your leg went unnoticed? Give me a break.”
Mia stared blandly back at Jack. The bastard is smart … if I continue to lie, he won’t trust me …
“I’ll tell you right now that I don’t trust you,” said Jack, as if reading her thoughts. “If you are straight with me, I’ll protect you, but if you’re not, I should tell you that I have no qualms about feeding you to the wolves. If you fly with the crows, expect to get shot.”
Mia was quiet for a moment, then hung her head and said, “Okay, I’m sorry. I admit I was hoping to control you through sexual innuendo.” She turned her face up to Jack, eyes watering, and said, “Do you blame me? I’m scared. I feel like I’ve lost all control over my life.”
“As I said,” replied Jack, “if you’re straight with me, I’ll look after you. You made a mistake taking money from Wong’s people, but you’re young and have a whole life ahead of you. I won’t jeopardize that and will protect you until the day I die … providing you prove you are worthy of protection. Later, even if it meant dropping Wong’s charge, I would do it to protect you.”
Mia stared at Jack. I believe you. “Good enough,” she said, fumbling with her keys as she unlocked her car. “I’ll call you when I make contact with Mr. Frank.
Mia watched as Jack returned to his car. He’s a good guy … and good guys finish last …
“Is that what I think it was about?” asked Laura, when Jack got back in the car.
“Yes.”
“I wouldn’t trust her alone with my cat,” said Laura.
“Good thing I’m not your cat.” Jack grinned.
“That makes it worse,” retorted Laura. “My tomcat has more scruples than a lot of men I know.”
“Only because your cat has been neutered,” replied Jack, “which is what Natasha would do to me if I strayed.” He glanced at Mia sitting in her car. “Your instincts are right, though. I don’t trust her. She’s holding something back, but what choice do we have?”
Laura shrugged in response. “I don’t know, but you using her to get to Wong makes me feel sick.”
“Her holding back could be a trust issue for her, too. Maybe she’ll open up more later.”
“And in the mean time what do we do?” asked Laura. “Just wait? She said it might take a few days to contact Mr. Frank.”
“Were you listening when she was concerned about me putting in a report on my computer or laptop?”
“Yes, I think she is genuinely concerned for her safety. I actually took it as a good sign. If she had no intention of helping us, she wouldn’t be so worried.”
“Perhaps, but there’s something else. Why did she specifically mention computer and laptop? Why not simply ask if I was putting in a report? I think she’s holding something back there as well.”
“Like what?”
“Like I think I’m going to give Jim Purney a call. He’s the best guy I know when it comes to electronics and bugs. I’m going to ask him to check out Roger Morris’s office at AOCTF.”
“You’re thinking Wong could have spyware on their computers?”
Jack shrugged. “Who knows? Stranger things have happened.”
“I can’t see that happening,” said Laura. “If Wong has spyware on the AOCTF computers, he would have it on all our computers. I don’t know much about that stuff, but I’m sure our firewall protection is the best there is.”
“You’re probably right, but it won’t hurt to check.” Jack glanced at his watch and said, “It’s eight o’clock, let’s call it a day. I’ll phone Jim in the morning.”
Mia watched as Jack and Laura drove out of the parking lot. She decided she would call her mother, but not until she returned home and sent a priority message requesting an urgent meeting with Mr. Frank.